Miami blue adults are short lived in the wild; females may live five days, males about two days. Adults typically stay within thirty feet of their birthplace. Miami blues were known to lay their eggs exclusively on balloon vine (Cardiospermum corindum), but the last known wild population uses grey nicker bean (Caesalpinia bonduc).

The range of the Miami blue was reduced in the second half of the twentieth century due to the loss of habitat to urban development. It had disappeared from the mainland of Florida and from the barrier islands along the peninsula by 1990. It had become confined to a few spots in the Florida Keys and was becoming rare there. Hurricane Andrew appeared to have wiped out the species in 1992. Searches were made, but no Miami blues were found.

In 2003 the Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida began raising and breeding Miami blues, starting from about 100 eggs collected in the wild. In 2004 they released 2,500 of the insects at selected locations. However, the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season caused damage to all of the release sites as well as at Bahia Honda. The Bahia Honda colony has recovered, and the University continues its breeding and wild release program.

In August and September 2006 hundreds of captive-bred caterpillars and adult Miami blues were released on Elliott Key, but the reintroduction did not successfully establish a population.[1]

In November and December 2006, more colonies were discovered on other islands in the Florida Keys.

In August 2011, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service used an emergency measure that gives the species 240 days of temporary federal protection while they go through the formal process of placing it on the federal list of endangered species.[2]